Machine for making vessels from fibrous pulp



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

. E. HUBBARD. MACHINE FOR MAKING VESSELS FROM FIBROUS PULP. No. 474,637.

Patented May 10, 1892.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

E. HUBBARD. MACHINE FOR MAKING VESSELS PROM PIBROUS PULP. No. 474,637.Patented May 10, 1892.

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EQHUBBARD. MACHINE FOR MAKING VBSSELS PROM FIBROUS PULP. No. 474,637.Patented May 10,1892.

mmwfil ff llnutrein dramas PATENT FFIQEt EBER. HUBBARD, OF CHICAGO,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE STANDARD FIBEIt-WARE COMPANY, OF MANKATO,MINNESOTA.

MACHINE FOR MAKING VESSELS FROM FIBROUS PULP.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent NO. 474,637, dated May 10,1892. Application filed August 16, 1890- Serial No. 862,146. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EBERQHUBBARD, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago,

county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in a Machine for Making Vessels from Fibrous Pulp,which are fully set forth in the following specification, referencebeing had to the accompan yin g drawings, forming a part thereof.

The purpose of this invention is to provide new and simpler mechanismfor forming vesselssuch as water-pails-from fibrous pulp by molding andpressing.

In the drawings, Figure l is a vertical axial section through a machineof the nature of a mold and press which embody my invention, the partsbeing in the position occupied at the conclusion of their operation,when the pail-is ready to be removed. Fig. 2 is a similar sectional viewof the same machine, the parts being in the position occupied when themold is being charged with pulp. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing theparts in the position occupied near the limit of the pressing action ofthe machine. the same. on Fig. 1.

The frame of this machine comprises a rigid standard made up of the baseA and legs A and an upright frame supported on the base, comprising theposts A and the top frame A secured at the upper ends of said posts.

B is a table or tablet, having the vertical spindle B extending downwardfrom its center through the center of the base A, said Fig. 4. is a topplan of Fig. 5 is a section at the line 5 5 spindle obtaining verticalguidance in said base and in bearings which may be provided below thebase, said spindle being adapted to have power applied to it toreciprocate it vertically through its slide-bearings and carry the tableup and down within the frame above the base A.

B is a form shaped to correspond to the interior of the vessel to bemolded and pressed, being, as illustrated, a frustum of a cone tocorrespond with the interior of the waterbucket. This form is preferablyhollow, though this is not material. The table B has a concentric beador boss I) of diameter corresponding to the larger (which is the lower)end of the form 13 and serves to fix the position of said form on thetable when it is located thereon in use. Preferably the form is madefast on the table by any convenient means. The table B has projectingfrom one side an arml3 which serves to support the upright rod 13',which has a purpose which will be hereinafter explained.

C is a ring whose center is in the axis of the form B and which isprovided with opposite lugs or arms C, which are guided on the posts A Aconvenient means for providing such guidance consists of the rods Ahaving the ends bent and secured in the posts, the lugs C having eyes0', through which the rods A enter, so that the eyes slide on the rods.Whatever means of providing this guidance is adapted, the ring isstopped at the lower limit of its vertical movement just above the levelof the top of the form B When the rods are used as guides, the inbentends of the rods, which serve as a means for secu ring them to theposts, serve,- also, as stops for the ring. The inner diameter of thisring is exactly equal to the outer diameter of the lower end of the formB so that when the form is elevated and passed through the ring, whenthe table B B reaches the ring, the latter will rest thereon and fitclosely about the bottom of the form, occupying thereto the relation ofa flange.

D D D are staves, which make up a jacket, which constitutes the outersection of a mold, of which the inner section is the form B These stavesare each composed of a body D and a lip D projecting from the onelateral edge of the body. The body is most conveniently formed ofcast-iron or other metal of sufficient thickness to be rigid, islongitudinally tapered, and has the inner face horizontally concave, theouter face being a plane except as to certain longitudinal ribs andgrooves hereinafter described. This body may be, as illustrated, ashellthat is, hollow between the inner concave and outer plane surfacetosave Weight of metal. The lip D is preferably formed of quite thin sheetmetal. As illustrated, and as most convenient, the lip is made byfolding a piece of sheet metal in right-angular form, attaching one ofthe lipsof the angle-bar thus made to one lateral edge of the body, theother lip projecting in the plane of the concave face of the body andbeing similarly slightly concaved, so that its inner face forms thecontinuation of the concave face of the body. This projecting lip, asstated, is quite thin, and it may be tapered to an edge, as shown in thedrawings, the opposite margin of the concave face of the stave beingslightly beveled to receive the corresponding lip of the next adjacentstave, which laps onto it in the operation of the press. Each of thestaves has the face perforated and preferably covered, also, withfinely-perforated sheet metal (Z, and at the outer or rearward side hasa longitudinal dovetailed groove D extending the entire length, and bymeans of these dovetailed grooves the staves are supported on thedovetailed bars E, which are secured rigidly at their upper ends to thetop frame A and arranged in a circle about the axis of the form 13 andproject divergently downward. Each of the staves D has at the upper endan arm D projecting inward at an angle to the longitudinal direction ofthe face of the stave. This arm is concave, like the remainder of thestave, and the lip D may be continued along the edge of this arm asalong the corresponding edge of the lower portion of the stave. The backor outer surface of the staves having the dovetailed groove is straightthroughout, both back of the lower and back of the upper orinwardly-deflected end of the stave. The dovetailed bars E may have,beside the dovetailed tongue E, the straight tongues E parallel with thedovetail and fitting in straight grooves D in the staves, to afiordadditional guidance to the staves as they slide, as will hereinafter beexplained, on said bars E, the purpose of the dovetail being merely tokeep the stave in connection with the bars while they are adapted toslide thereon.

F is a disk, which acts as a follower and which formstheupperend-ofthemoldandgivesshape to the bottom of the pail formed in the mold. Toits. upper side there is secured the large cylindrical stem E, which isguided in the slidebearing A formed for it on the top frame A consistingof a cylindrical flange, which projects downward from said. top frame.

Through the center of the cylindrical stem F of the disk F there extendsthe tube G, and said tube at its lower end connects with a centralaperture in the disk F, which is adapted to be closed by the valve G.Said Valve has its stem G extending up through the tube G and through astuffing-box G at the upper end of said tube, so that the valve can beoperated from the outside. To the tube G, just below the stuffing-box Gthere is connected a pulp-supply pipe, which by flexible connectionextends to the tank from which the pulp is supplied. The cylindricalstem E, which is most conveniently and for the sake of lightness madetubular, is preferably closed at the top, except where the tube Gnecessarily extends from it and penetrates its top. The top plate F isconical, as illustra-ted, for a reason which will hereinafter appear.

H is a lever, which is pivoted on the arm A of the top frame, said armbeing for that purpose extended beyond the post A and having at itsouter end the upwardly projecting brackets A between which the lever His pivoted. This lever H extends diametrically across the press, havingat the point where it passes the center the aperture H, through whichthe tube G passes freely, said lever being adapted to rest upon theconical top plate of the tubular stem F outside the pulp-feeding tube G.The inner end of the lever H is inside the circle of the posts A anddirectly above the end of the arm B of the table B. To this end of thelever there is loosely pivoted the depending latch H which has at itslower end the tooth 7L2 and at its upper end, just below the pivot, theshoulder 7L facing downward. The rod B has the aperture 1) at a distancebelow its upper end just equal to the distance from the shoulder h tothe top 7L2 on the latch H said rod B and its aperture 11 co-operatingwith the latch H by means of the shoulder h and tooth 71 in theperformance of a function which will hereinafter be explained.

The operation of this mold and press is as follows: The press beingempty and ready for use, the spindle B is forced upward,carrying with itthe table B and the form B thereon, the form entering the ring 0 andpassing up through it until the table collides with the ring, whereuponthe ring will be carried up with the table resting upon it and fittingclosely around the base of the form B In its further upward movement theform will enter the jacket made up of the stavesD and pass up withinthat jacket for a distance without any change of position of the partsoccurring until the ring 0, resting on thetable, reaches the lower endsof the staves. It will be observed that the ring 0 from this point on inthe process may be considered as a part of the table, since it moves andoperates as integral therewith up to a certain point. While the partsare in this position, the valve G being opened, pulp in a liquidcondition is emitted through the tube G, and fills the space interveningbetween the form B and the jacket made up of the staves D, said spacebeing bounded at the bottom by the table and the ring 0 thereon and atthe top by the bottom-forming disk F. This bottom-forming disk by reasonof its action from this point onward may be termed a follower, being ofthe nature of a coinpressing-piston. The space within the mold beingthus filled with the liquid pulp, the valve G will be closedeither bythe operatoror by the action of the pulp itself floating it up againstits seat. The table B and form B being new further elevated will forceupward the staves whose lower ends rest upon and are pushed by thetable. The staves moving upward and being controlled in that movement bythe bars E, which converge from below upward, will be forced inward,also, at a rate corresponding to the angle of convergence of the bars.In this process it will be observed that the thin lips D of the staves,which lap upon the adjacent bodies, will slide thereon, keeping thejacket at all times closed, notwithstandingits diminishing capacity. Thestaves being thus advanced radially toward the axis of the form willcompress the pulp in the mold, driving out the water through theapertures d in the body. It will be observed that in the absence of anyprovision to the contrary the disk or follower F would be approached bythe upper end of the form B which is the inner wall of the portion ofthe mold which forms the bottom of the vessel at the full rate, at whichthe said form is being elevated, while the staves would approach thelateral surface of the form at a rate very much less than that dependentonly upon the rate of convergence of the arms E, and that the bottomwould thereby be compressed very much more than the sides. This isprevented, however, by means of the rod 13 operating the lever H, for atthe instant the lower ends of the staves are reached by the table asthelatter rises the upper end of the rod B reaches the shoulder if on thelatch H The first effect of this collision of the rod with the shoulderis to swing the latch slightly outward, causing its tooth 77/ to enterthe aperture 1) in the rod 13, thereby temporarilylocking the rod to thelever. As the table continues to rise, the rod 8, being now engaged withthe shoulder 71 and also with the end of the lever 11, which coincideswith the shoulder 71 will lift that end of the lever, and thereby liftthe disk with the follower F by means of the links H which connect saidlever with the cylindrical stem F of the follower. The connection of thelever to the follower, however, being nearer to the pivot of the leverthan the point at which the rod B engages the lever, said disk orfollower F will not be lifted as great a distance as the table B andform B The pivot of the lever H is so located as to make the differencebetween the upward movement of the follower F and the end of the leverequal the inward movement of the staves caused by the convergence of thearms E. It will be obvious that this can be easily arranged, the ratiobetween the longer and shorter arms of the leverthat is, between thedistance from the pivot of thelever to the end and the distance fromsaid pivots to the links TI -being proportioned to the proper functionsof the angle of convergence of the arms E. This provision, however,would not alone assure the compression of the bottom of the pail equallywith the sides, because after a considerable degree of compactness wasattained the disk or followerF might be pushed up by the compact pulpitself faster than it would be lifted by the lever H. Such action,however, is prevented by the engagement of the tooth h in the aperture17 0f the rod 13, and

thereby the rate of approach of the form endwise toward the follower ismade to agree exactly with the rate of approach laterally of the form tothe jacket. It will be understood that when the table first strikes thebottom of the staves, so that the mold is completed and the space toreceive the pulp is inclosed, the distance of the sides of the form fromthe staves is the same as the distance of the top of the form from thefollower F, so that an equal reduction of that space will give equalcompression of the inclosed pulp. The inwardlydeflected arms D of thestaves serve as a further and simultaneously-operating means for causingthe follower F to approach theend of the form B at a rate equal to thatat which the staves approach the sides of the form. These arms abutagainst the periphery of the disk or follower'F, and their inclinationis such relatively to the inclination of the stave proper that theradial approach of the staves toward the axis of the form causes theseinwardly-deflected arms D to crowd the disk or follower F downwardrelatively to the staves at the same rate at which the staves moveinward radially. It will be observed that this is the same result whichis accomplished by the locking of the lever H to the rod B by means ofthe latched tooth H and either means might be omitted, the other aloneaccomplishing the result; but the latch being a means which operatesmost positively is a desirable addition to the means which the arms Dafford, said arms operating with considerable friction, for the purposestated, upon thebeveled edge of the disk F, and, onthe other hand, saidarms D serve a further purpose in that they close up the moldcompletely, making junction by contact with the follower F from thecommencement of the compressing action and keep it closed during thechange in diameter, which results from the radial approach of the stavesas they rise, so that the pulp is not liable to be forced out around thefollower which molds thebottom; but all the pulp is kept snugly withinthe mold, and the resulting vessel is clearly outlined by the mold anduniformly compressed at all parts without the waste which would resultif the mold were not closed up around the margin of the followerF andwithout the variation in density which would re sult, also, from thesame cause if a portion of the pulp were forced out at that pointbeforethe vessel were fully compacted. It will be noticed that the conical topplate F of the tubular stem F of the follower affords by means of itstaper a pivotal support, over which the lever H rocks as it crowds thefollower down, and such is the purpose of giving this form to the top.After the Vessel is com pletel ymolded and compacted in the press, asdescribed, the table B and form 15 are withdrawn downward. The entirejacket,

made up of the staves D, as well as the follower F, will descend withthe form at the first downward movement of thelatter, and by thatmovement the staves will be drawn out radially on account of theengagement of their dovetailed grooves with the dovetails on the bars E,and the follower F, being still controlled by the lever H, which is inturn controlled by the rod B will not descend so rapidly as the form 13and will therefore in the same manner be withdrawn from the bottom ofthe vessel molded on the form B As soon as the staves are out of contactand free from the collision of the molded vessel they will, by their ownweight, descend as rapidly as the descent of the follower F will permit,the arms D of the staves hanging on the edge of the follower F, and thestaves being thus prevented from falling out of engagement with the barsE. The ring 0 will descend with the table Band form B until its descentis stopped by the means provided, as described-to wit, the inbent endsof the guide-rods A -and as soon as these stops are encountered the ringwill halt in its descent. At this point the operator will release thelatch H from the rod B but the table and form, continuing to descend,will be withdrawn from the vessel, which will remain supported by itsbottom edge on the ring, and the table and form will descend to theinitial position at the bottom of the pressframe. It will be noticedthat at the lowest position of the staves D their lower ends are abovethe level of the top or form B at its lowest position a distancesomewhat greater than the entire length vertically of the vessel whichis molded on the form, so that it can be removed horizontally from thering on which it is left standing. Having been thus removed, it will beproperly treated by suitable drying or hardening process, which forms nopart of my invention; but it should be noticed that the vessel is, as toexterior and interior form, substantially finished, requiring no turningoff of the surface except, perhaps, that which may be accomplished byslight sandpapering to remove, if desired, the very slight lines whichwill mark the imprint of the edges of the lips D of the staves and thevery slight burrs which will sometimes be left at the edge of the chineand at. the top edge of the pail, the burr on the chine being caused,ifat all, by fibers which are forced around the edge of the follower F,between it and the staves, and the burr at the top edge of the pailbeing similarly formed by fibers forced between the ends of the stavesand the ring 0. The chine, it will be observed, is molded by thefollower E, which has a rabbet f around its margin for that purpose. Thepail-bottom is made convex inward by the shape of the upper end of theform and the corresponding shape of the follower F, because it is foundthat that shape gives the best result in drying, the shrinkage beingsometimes such as would causethe straight bottom to drawin the sides anddistort the vessel.

' It will be apparent upon consideration that the table performs merelythe function of a flange around the bottom of the form Bisuch dispensedwith, in which case the pail when molded would rest directly on theflange formed by the table 13, the only purpose of interposing the ring0 being to facilitate the removal of the pail when molded.

I claim- 1. In a machine for making vessels from fibrous pulp, incombination with the form B the jacket made up of thestaves D, the barsE, supporting respectively the staves D and provided with longitudinalslide-bearings for the same, and the frame which supports the barsE,said form being adapted to be reciprocated in the direction of itsaxis to advance the latter into the jacket in the direction in which thebars E converge, the marginal table projecting around the form at itsbase and adapted to collide with the ends of the staves when the formisadvanced.substantiallyas set forth.

2. In a machine for making vessels from fibrous pulp, in combinationwith the form B and a jacket into which it is advanced, the frame inwhich said jacket is supported and the ring 0, stops on said frame abovethe form, which arrest and support the ring, said ring having its innerdiameter adapting it to fit about the base of the form, and the marginaltable projecting around the base of the form and affording lodgment forthe ring, whereby the form is protruded through the ring and the ring islodged on the marginal table as the form rises and is left on the stopsas the form descends, substantially as set forth.

In a machine for making vessels from fibrous pulp, in combination withthe form 13 and the means for reciprocating it, the converging bars Eand the frame which supports them, the staves D, having slide-bearingson said con verging bars,res pectively, and the ring 0, adapted to fitabout the base of the form 13 and supports for said ring on the frame,located at a horizontal plane above the upper end of the form Bsubstantially as set forth.

4. In combination with the form B and its horizontal marginal base andthe stem by which it is adapted to be reciprocated, the converging barsE and the frame which supports them, the jacket made up of the staves D,supported and guided longitudinally on the converging bars E,respectively, the follower or bottom disk F, located within the staves Dat their upper ends, and the pulpsupply tube G, discharging through saidfollower and provided with a valve to close its discharge-mouth,substantially as set forth.

5. In combination with the jacket composed of staves, thelongitudinally-converging slidebearings of said staves, and the form Bhaving its marginal base or table adapted to col- IIf lide with thestaves and force them endwise as the form is advanced into the jacket,the follower or bottom disk F, adapted to be reciprocated in the samedirection as the form, and

a lever connected to and actuating the follower and actuated byconnection with the form,the difference between the distance from thefulcrum to the point at which the lever is so actuated and the distancefrom the fulcrum to the point at which it actuates the follower bearingto the distance of the last-named point from the fulcrum the same ratioas the convergence of the slide-bearings of the staves toward the axisof the form for a given dis tance along that axis bears to such axialdistance, whereby the follower is carried upward as much less than theform moves upward as the staves are forced inward during such upwardmovement of the form, substantially as set forth.

6. In combination with the form B and its marginal base and the means bywhich it is reciprocated in the direction of its axis, the convergingbars E and the frame which supports them, and the jacket made up of thestaves D, supported and having longitudinal slide-bearin gs on theconverging bars, respectively, and having each the inwardly-inclinedportion D at the upper end, and the follower F, located within saidinwardlyinclined portions of the staves and adapted to reciprocate inthe direction of the axis of the form, the said inwardly-inclinedportions of the staves being at an angle of forty-five degrees to thedirection of reciprocation of the form and follower, 3 5 substantiallyas set forth.

7. In combination with the jacket composed of staves, the1ongitudinally-convergin g slidebearings of said staves, and the form 13having its marginal base or table adapted to collide with the staves andforce them endwise as the form is advanced into the jacket, the followeror bottom disk F, adapted to be reciprocated in the same direction asthe form, and a lever connected to and actuating the follower andactuated by connection with the form, the difference between thedistances respectively from the fulcrum of the point at which the leveris so actuated and the point at which it actuates the follower beingproportioned to the distance of the last-named point from the fulcrum asthe converging of the slide-bearings of the staves toward the axis ofthe form for a given distance along that axis is to such axial distance,the staves having each an inwardly-inclined portion D standing at anangle of forty-five degrees to the direction of reciprocation of theform and follower, and the follower being located within said inclinedportions of the staves,s ubstantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have set my hand, this 5th day of August, 1590,at Chicago, llli- 1101s.

EBER. HUBBARD.

WVitnesses:

CHAS. S. BURTON, J EAN ELLIOTT.

